A major route through Hinckley is set to be closed for up to five months while a sewer updgrade is carried out.

Leicester Road will be shut from April 10 as Severn Trent carries out the £1.5 million project which is aimed at preventing flooding in the area.

The company will start the long-anticipated works on March 27 in Island Close, just off Leicester Road.

But the work will move on to the main Leicester Road on April 10,

As a result, Leicester Road will be closed to through traffic until September between the junctions of Spa Lane and Highfield Road to Stoneygate Drive and Bradgate Road.

A diversion route for traffic and buses will be in place, but access to Hinckley Academy and John Cleveland Sixth Form Centre, as well as Hinckley Parks Primary School, will be affected.

Residents have been invited to a meeting where the plans will be outlined by Severn Trent at Hinckley Golf Club on March 7 from 2pm until 7pm.

Severn Trent

James Arkesden, who is leading the project for Severn Trent, said: “This is a really important project for people in Hinckley as our work will protect a number of homes that are currently at risk of sewer flooding.

“At the moment, when there’s heavy rainfall, several homes are at risk and the scheme will increase the capacity of our sewers to greatly reduce the chance of anyone being affected by flooding in the future.

“We’ll be working in the area for several months and want to make sure everyone is aware of our plans. That’s why we’re holding the drop-in session to give local residents the opportunity to find out more and ask any questions they may have.”

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The drop-in session will take place at Hinckley Golf Club on March 7 from 2pm to 7pm.

The work involves ‘upsizing’ the sewers in Leicester Road to cope with surface water, while larger pipes will be laid in Island Close, where properties have been prone to flooding.

Before Severn Trent can begin work on the sewer, National Grid will divert several short sections of their gas main along part of Leicester Road over the coming weeks. They will also upgrade their pipes during the closure.

Mr Arkesden said: “We’ve been working closely with National Grid and the local council to plan this project and to make sure as little disruption is caused as possible.

Severn Trent

“National Grid also needs to carry out some additional work beneath Leicester Road to upgrade their gas pipes so, to ensure the road doesn’t need to be closed again in the near future, they’ll carry out that work while we’ve got the road closed.

“Our contractors from NMCNomenca will also be working six days a week to help us complete the project more quickly, and we’ve planned the work to take place at least partly during the school holidays when roads are quieter.”

He added: “This is a big project for Hinckley and we expect to complete our work within five months.

“The nature of the scheme means that we do need to close Leicester Road to allow our engineers to work safely, but we’ll work as quickly and effectively as possible to complete the project and return the area to normal.

“We’re investing a large amount in this area of Hinckley and we hope everyone will understand the benefits this will have for the future.”

For more information and updates during the project, visit www.stw.works